Press Release: USCIRF Calls for Release of Prisoner of Conscience as White House Takes Harder Line on Religious Freedom Violations in China

October 18, 2018
by admin

WASHINGTON, DC — Commissioner Gary Bauer of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today echoed the Trump Administration’s condemnation of widespread religious freedom abuses in China as he announced his “adoption” of imprisoned Christian church leader Hu Shigen. Hu, a religious freedom advocate who had suffered torture during a previous 16-year prison sentence for human rights advocacy, was detained again in 2015 and sentenced in 2016 to a 7.5-year sentence for “subversion of government power.”

“Tragically, the treatment of Mr. Hu is entirely consistent with what we’re seeing throughout China as Christians, Uighur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists and Falun Gong practitioners are persecuted for their faiths,” said Bauer, whose personal advocacy for Hu is part of USCIRF’s Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project. “The scope and scale of these violations is staggering and it is incumbent upon all of us to hold China accountable for its brutal treatment of individuals and communities of faith.”

In its 2018 Annual Report, USCIRF described China’s increased “sinicization” campaigns to control, govern, and manipulate all aspects of faith into a socialist mold with “Chinese characteristics.” In recent testimony before a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee, USCIRF’s Chair, Dr. Tenzin Dorjee, cited China’s forced “re-education” of Uighur Muslims, destruction of religious institutions, and the false imprisonment, often without legal representation, of religious freedom advocates like Hu Shigen.

USCIRF also remains concerned by the many unresolved issues, including the reported forced disappearances of Catholic clergy, that remain following the agreement in late September between Beijing and the Vatican.

To learn more about the plight of Hu Shigen, USCIRF’s Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project, and USCIRF’s recommendations for deterring China’s continued religions freedom abuses, Gary Bauer is available to speak on background or for attribution. Please contact Kellie Boyle at kboyle@uscirf.gov or +1-703-898-6554.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze and report on threats to religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at Media@USCIRF.gov or Kellie Boyle at kboyle@uscirf.gov or +1-703-898-6554.